Richards Thursday Folder
May 2, 2024
Dear Richards Families,
Recent reports have highlighted safety concerns during drop off and pick up times at our school. One family narrowly avoided an accident when a parent/family vehicle exiting our staff parking lot nearly hit their child walking home at dismissal. This serves as a reminder of the importance of safety during these busy periods. Additionally, there have been reports of unsafe driving and parking near our school.
To address these issues, we are implementing several measures:
- Updated Signage: We are in the process of updating signage regarding the staff lot during arrival and dismissal times.
- Increased Police Presence: Working closely with the Whitefish Bay Police Department, we are enhancing monitoring and enforcement in the vicinity of our school.
- Collaborative Efforts: We are continuously collaborating with the village, building and grounds management, and law enforcement agencies to improve safety protocols and traffic flow for long-term solutions.
We appreciate your advocacy for safety within our community. Please remember the following guidelines below and take a moment to review them with your children.
- Drivers: Observe reduced speed limits in school zones, avoid parking in designated no parking areas, and drop off students on the same side of the street as the school whenever possible.
- Pedestrians: Cross streets only at designated crosswalks and intersections, and ensure children stay close while navigating through traffic.
- Bikers: Adhere to traffic signals, use hand signals, and cross streets only at designated crossings.
- Parking: The Richards staff parking lot is for staff use only (7:30 am - 3:30 pm). Limited visitor parking is available in front of the red playground on N. Santa Monica Blvd. Please be mindful of the handicapped parking zones on E. Belle Avenue.
Your cooperation is essential in ensuring the safety of our students and families. Together, we can create a secure environment for everyone. Thank you for your continued support and vigilance.
May Concert Events
All-District Orchestra Festival (Grades 4-12): Thursday, May 9, 7:00pm at the WFBHS Fieldhouse. All Richards families are invited to attend this free performance given by all ages and levels of WFB Orchestra students. Please join us!
Band-O-Rama (Grades 5-12): Save the date - Tuesday, May 7 at 7:30pm in the HS Field House. All WFB School Bands will perform at this special event.
Richards Fine Arts Festival: We are excited for the Richards Fine Arts Festival scheduled for Thursday, May 30th from 11:45am - 2pm. This event is brought to you by our Encore teachers: Art, Library, Music, Spanish, and Physical Education. This will be a fun-filled afternoon of food, art, music, & dance.The theme this year is “ A ‘Day’ at the Museum.” Each grade level will be representing a different type of museum exhibit and there will be a special Richards History Exhibit in addition to the Art Show. We can’t wait to showcase the amazing talents of our students! More information about the day's schedule will be coming soon, but please see the information below about grade level colors and to RSVP.
1. We are asking all families to RSVP via this link no later than May 20.
2. Students are asked to wear their assigned color or something related to their theme.
· K4 & K5: Dinosaur Exhibit, Green
· 1st Grade: Insectarium, Yellow
· 2nd Grade: Neolithic Exhibit, Blue
· 3rd Grade: Renaissance Exhibit, Orange
· 4th Grade: Wisconsin State Exhibit, Red
· 5th Grade: Planetarium, Black/metallic/shiny
Upcoming No School Dates
May 24 - No School 4K. Early Dismissal at 11:30am 5K - 5th Grade
May 27 - No School 4K - 5th Grade
June 13 - Last day of school for 4K
June 14 - Last day of school 5K - 5th Grade
5K-5th Grade Belongingness Survey: Starting on May 13th, K5-5th grade students will again take the three-question Belongingness Survey. There will be limited individual student follow up, as the data will primarily be used for comparison with fall data.
2024-2025 School Year
NEW Student Enrollment: 4K - 5th Grade new student enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is now open. Visit our website for more information about the enrollment process.
It is not necessary for current students to re-enroll. Families of current students will complete online registration in August. Specific registration details will be shared this summer.
Is your student NOT returning for the 2024-25 School Year? Another important part of our planning for next year is to project as accurately as possible our student enrollments. Please notify the Richards office if your child will not be returning to Richards next year. (Stephanie.Haupt@wfbschools.com) Thank you!
The 2024-2025 School Year Calendar is linked below for family reference.
Staff Appreciation Week 2024! Attention Richards Families! Each year there is one week when we celebrate our Richards teachers, staff, and crossing guards to show them how much we appreciate all they do for our children. This year, Staff Appreciation Week will be May 6-10, and the Richards PTO has exciting plans! Each day, the PTO plans a special activity, including catered lunches, gifts and sweet treats. Everyone gets excited for the daily sweepstakes as well, and this is where we can use your help! We are looking for donations from our Richards Community to help make the week a great success. Please consider making a monetary or gift card donation. Donations may be made through Membership Toolkit at https://richardspto.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/277491 or in the envelopes that came home in your child’s Thursday Folder. Questions? Email Staff Appreciation Week Chairs Angela Burke angelahorvath@hotmail.com or Chrissy Tigrani caduhn@gmail.com.
Cultural Arts: Last week Richards students had the opportunity to learn a bit about Deaf Culture and American Sign Language from Sunny Brysch, Director of the American Sign Language Program at UW-Milwaukee. Ms. Brysch communicated with the students via American Sign Language and through an interpreter to debunk myths that surround the deaf community. Thank you to Ms. Matthews and the Cultural Arts and Equity Committee for arranging this event.
If you would be interested in joining the Cultural Arts and Equity Committee next year, please email ktcizauskas@gmail.com.
Movie Night: The PTO is excited to welcome Richard's families to the last Movie Night of the 2023/2024 school year on May 10th! Movie Night is sponsored by Jamie Ludlow with Shorewest Realtors. Stay tuned for more details!
Spirit's Soiree!! Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 15th for a fun night at Richards Elementary School!! The Richards PTO invites all families to join us in the Richards Gym for Spirit's Soiree from 5-7pm. All are welcome to enjoy dancing to a DJ, snack on cookies and treats, and even a special appearance by Spirit the Tiger! Stop by the Great Hall for the Book Fair and Spirit Wear Sale. We hope to see you all there!! Questions? Contact Anna Graham at annagraham4@gmail.com or Kristin Fischer at klfischer622@gmail.com
The Scholastic Book Fair returns on Wednesday, May 15 for one day only! We will be open in the Great Hall from 3-7:30pm. The fair will feature great titles to interest all ages! Please note, teachers do not make wish lists for the spring bookfair. If you have leftover money from an ewallet from a previous fair, you should receive an email from Scholastic about how to reactivate the wallet. We hope to see you there!
We do need a few volunteers to make this event work. If you are interested, please use the following link to sign up: LINK
Questions?
Contact Carrie Osswald cseelman@yahoo.com or Amy Mulcahy amymulcahy13@yahoo.com
PTO COMMITTEE CHAIR OPENINGS for 2024-2025 School Year
Not all heroes wear capes! We are looking for volunteers to co-chair the Fun Lunch committee for the ‘24-’25 school year. Fun Lunch is a key fundraiser for the PTO and a treat for both kids and adults. You can sign up as soon as today and work with current chairs Deborah and Lynn to be ready for Fall 2024. Please email RichardsPTOWFB@gmail.com if interested in learning more!
Ever dream of being President someday?? Well now may be your opportunity! The PTO is seeking volunteers to co-chair the Vice President role for the next school year. The Vice President assists the President, as needed, and shadows the President in preparation for advancing to the Presidency the following year. If your someday is today, please reach out to current Presidents Maya and Angie via email at RichardsPTOWFB@gmail.com for more information!
Attention Fifth Grade Families! Whitefish Bay Middle School Spirit Wear on sale now! Looking for the perfect gift for Fifth Grade Advancement? Surprise your rising Middle Schooler with some Lion Pride gear! All spirit wear orders are placed online and shipped directly to your home. Popular brands include Puma, Nike, Under Armor, and North Face. For a limited time only, use the promo code PRIDE20, to save 20% off orders of $100 or more. Exclusions apply, see the spirit wear store for more details.
Click Here to Shop Now! Or Visit the WFBMS PTO website and click on “Spirit Wear.”
Questions? Email the WFBMS PTO at wfbmiddleschoolpto@gmail.com
Measles in Wisconsin
We hope that this message finds you well. The District is writing to inform you of important information related to an increase in measles cases in Wisconsin.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It is a serious infection that causes fever, cough, a rash, sore eyes, and occasionally dangerous complications. Measles spreads very easily, so it is important to protect against infection. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent measles. Information on the measles vaccine can be found through the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
It is important for you to check your student’s immunization records to make sure they have received two doses of MMR vaccine. You may check your student’s immunization record using the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR). Your student’s health care provider should also have their immunization record.
To be clear, at this time, there have been no confirmed cases of measles in the Whitefish Bay School District. We encourage families to take precautions to avoid measles cases, particularly if your student is not vaccinated against the virus. Should there be a confirmed case of measles in the District, the District Nurse will work closely with the North Shore Health Department and the Wisconsin Immunization Program to determine if there is a need for those without proof of immunity to measles to be excluded.
Additional information on measles and relevant District policies are included below. Should you have any questions, please contact the District Nurse, Allison Heisler at 414-963-3989.
Resources:
Measles Fact Sheet (Center for Disease Control & Prevention)
Policy 453.3 Infectious/Communicable Diseases
Policy 453.3 Rule Definition of Infectious/Communicable Diseases
School Travel Safety
We ask that everyone uses great caution when traveling around our schools. Families have shared with us that there have been recent close calls where accidents have been narrowly avoided. Safety is a collective responsibility in our community. Please have conversations with your families and children about the importance of moving safely throughout the village.
School pick up and drop off result in additional congestion on the streets and sidewalks around our schools. Ensuring that students, families, and staff members are safe is a collective responsibility, even more so during high traffic times. Please review the following safety measures to help reduce the risks of accidents.
Drivers: School Zones have reduced speed limits. Please move slowly, stay attentive, and follow all traffic signs and signals, including No Parking, No Stopping, and Accessible Parking signs. Drop students off on the same side of the street as their school to avoid people crossing the street mid-block.
Pedestrians: Be sure to look both ways before crossing the street, and cross the street only at the corner. Crossing the street mid-block makes it difficult for drivers to see you.
Bikers: Pay careful attention to vehicles and pedestrians, obey traffic signs, and use hand signals to let others know where you are heading. Cross the street only at the corner, even if you don't see a car coming.
We greatly appreciate the commitment of all in practicing and modeling positive and safe travel behaviors for children. It is important that all students, staff members, and families are able to safely travel around our schools and arrive safely at their destinations.
School Board Meeting Takeaways: Curious about what is discussed at School Board Meetings? Linked below, you'll find key takeaways from the most recent School Board Meeting. Additional information can be found on the Board of Education website.
April 24 Board Meeting Takeaways
School Board Meeting: May 8, 2024: The community is welcome to attend School Board meetings to gain a better understanding of School District business and the role of the School Board. The public is also invited to address the Board during the public comment portion as indicated in Board meetings. Meeting agendas are posted within BoardDocs two days preceding each meeting.
· Meeting dates located under featured tab/documents
· Agendas located under featured or meeting tabs
WFBHS Grad Grams: Who do you know who is graduating from WFBHS this year? Your sitter? Your neighbor? The kids you coached in soccer? Send them each a Grad Gram message! Create a note that will be bound in a special book for each senior and delivered at graduation practice. The WFBHS Parent Association is taking orders for Grad Grams through June 3. Please see the order form below to participate in this fun tradition that is a highlight for our WFB seniors.
WFBHS Choir Fundraiser: Sunday, May 5th
Did you realize 1 in 10 people buy a new mattress every year? On Sunday, May 5, 2024, WFBHS Choir is hosting a one of a kind fundraising event. This event has been VERY successful here and in school districts all over the country for over 10 years. If you or anyone you know might be in need of a mattress, please save the date and visit our mobile showroom. This is the time to buy and save up to 50% off retail, all while supporting our Choir program. There will be 20+ sets on display and a team of experts on hand to answer any questions.
When: Sunday, May 5, 10am - 4:30pm
Where: WFBHS Fieldhouse
This is a no pressure sale, just stop in and take a look. Layaway and delivery are available to make it easy on you. It is a pleasure to be able to find a way to help students while providing cost savings to our community and staff. We appreciate your support of our fundraiser and hope you spread the word to neighbors, family and friends. *Sharing our event is easy on Facebook, Event Link: https://bit.ly/beds4whitefishbay2024
Whitefish Bay Public Education Foundation's Run the Bay
REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Run the Bay is the foundation's main event to fund innovation in the WFB Schools. The run will be held on Saturday, May 4th at Klode Park! You can register for the run HERE! Visit us on Facebook for more information on the run along with the other Bay Day activities. Please email Kara Bzdusek (kmbzdusek@gmail.com) for sponsorship opportunities.
Volunteers Needed for Run the Bay
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Not able to participate? Will you be there as a spectator? We would love your help! Sign up to volunteer HERE.
Information about Whooping Cough (Pertussis) from the North Shore Health Department:
The North Shore Health Department has shared information with our community related to Whooping Cough, or Pertussis. See link for more information.